Rail slotting machine



- March 12,1935.

Filed May 4,1932 4 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS.

March 12, 1935. v s, KALENBORN 1,993,933

RAIL SLOTTING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

flew/Y M1471 zwaazw A TTORNEYS.

March 12, 1935. A. s. KALENBORN 1,993,933

RAIL SLOTTING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1 952 4 Sheets-Sheet a ZT L IES S.

March 12, 1935. s KALENBORN RAIL SLOTTING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1932 4 sheets-Sheet 4 R S 1M7 H I ,A M @v a fin Patented Mar. 12, 1935" UNITED STATES RAIL SLOTTING MACHIN'E' Arion S. Kalenborn, Redwood City, }alif.,assig nor to Welding Service, Inc., -San'Franci'sco,

Caliltl, a corporation of California Application May 4, 1932, Serial No. 609,179" 1 Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for. servicing railway tracks, particularly machines of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 424,891, filed'January 31,

5- 1930, which are adapted to slot rail joints inthe general manner disclosed and claimed in Mc- Clary Reissue Patent No. 18,387.

-As. setforth in said reissue patent, certain advantages are gained by forming a V-shaped notch or slot extending downwardly between the rail ends of a rail joint. To briefiy'review these advantages, pounding of rolling stock upon the rail ends at the joint, accompanied by relative up and down movement between the adjacent rail ends, will not cause a chipping away of the metal adjacent the upper corners of the rail ends when the. joint is properly slotted. I have found that it is a further advantage to form the notch or slot arcuate or curved, rather than linear. This is forthe reason that the upper edges of the rail ends, adjacent the sides of the rail, are apt.

to be battered to a greater extent than the metal of the rails lying intermediate the sides. This is particularly true of the upper edges of the adjacent rail ends which are adjacent the inside of the rail, which are subjected to pounding from the flanges on the wheels of rolling stock. Bya slot' which is arcuate or curved in character, I have particular reference to a slot such as is formed by a cutting tool adapted to move in an arcuate path extending in a vertical plane, transversely, with respect to the rail. Obviously a cutting tool traversed in this manner forms a slot which is substantially deeper where it terminates adjacent the sides of the rails.

t is a general object of the present invention to devise arail slotting machine in which the cuttingv instrumentality or tool is traversed in a curved path, to secure the advantages outlined above.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a machine of the above character in which the cutting tool will at all times act efiiciently upon the portions of the rail being cut away, in spite of the fact that the cutting tool is traversed in an arcuate or curved path.

It is a further object of the invention to devise an improved rail slotting machine which will also be relatively simple and rugged in construction, and which can be readily manipulated by Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accom+ panying drawings. The appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the scope of the prior art.

Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view, in transverse cross section, illustrating the machine incorporating the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is .a plansview of the: machine illustrated in Fig. 1'.

Fig; 3 is across sectional detail taken along the line3-3of Fig.2. m

Fig. 4 is aside: elevational'view of .the-com-: plete machine; illustrating its; mode of .operation. v i

Figs. 5 and -6'- are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in which the machine slots a rail joint, andillustrating theeifect of making certain adjustments. l

Referring to Figs.'1.to 3 inclusive of. the drawings, the machine illustrated therein" consists of. a frame 10, adapted to be positioned adjacent a rail joint to beslotted. This frame can con-- veniently be a casting of aluminum alloyyfor the sake of: lightness, and 'is shown including the spaced upstandingside portions 11, which serve to supportcertain elements of the machine to be presently described. Casting portions 12 and 13' serve to connect theend portions .11 to form: a rigidframe structure- As 'means for detachably clamping the machine to a railjoint to'beslotted, thereis shown a shaft .16 journalled adjacent one endof frame 10, and upon whichanarm'l'l isttmounted' Lug 18, formed on arm-17, serves to engage the casting portion 16 of'the frame, and thereby limit movement? of arm 1'! in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Pins 19 areadjustably threaded into the ends ofharms 17, and are provided with hardened and pointed ends to engageone' side of the rail sections 21. Likewise. journaled to the side portion 11 of the frame 10 are the alignedhorizontal stud 'shafts'22. Space links 23, the purpose of'which will be presently explained, are mounted upon shafts 22. Likewise mounted upon the side frame portions 11, at a somewhat lower elevation, are the aligned stud shafts 24. Duplicate1levers26, mounted uponstud shafts 24, ,areeachprovided with a curved upwardly extending arm 27, and a depending arm 28. A pin 29 isadjustably threaded'in each of the depending arms 28,-these pins being provided with hardened and pointed .end portions similar to pins 19. Lock screws 31 facilitate fixing each of the pins 29 in an adjusted position. Arms 27 are pivotally connected to the end of a common shaft 32, which extends parallel to the axis of stud shafts 22 and 24. Links 33 and 33a are fixed to shaft 32, and are pivotally connected as by pins 34, with the ends of links 23. A socket portion 36 formed integral with arm 33a and serves to receive the lower end of a hand lever 37.

As will appear from Fig. 1, it is obvious that when the lever 37 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, links 23 together with arms 33 and 33a cause the axis of shaft 32 to swing towards the axis of stud shaft 22. Likewise levers 26 are thereby rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, to swing pins 29 away from the rail sections 21. Conversely, when the frame is positioned with respect to a rail joint as shown in Fig. 1, and lever 37 is swung in a clockwise direction, pins 29, are urged into engagement with the side of the rail ball, in opposition to pins 19. Movement-of lever 3'7 in a clockwise direction is limited .just past dead center position with respect to the centers of shafts 22 and 32 and pins 34, by lugs 38 formed on links 33 and 33a, which engage stop members 39 formed on the corresponding links 23. The toggle effect afforded by links 23 and arms 33 and 33a. serves to automatically lock lever 37 in its limiting position, in which pins 19 and 29 engage the sides of the rail ball The positioning of pins 19 and 29 is apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. Note that pins 19 are spaced fairly close together on opposite sides of the junction between the ends of the rail sections, while pins 29 are spaced farther apart but are likewise substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line of the machine and the center of the joint. Since pins Hand 29 engage the sides of the railball, rather than the web or the flanges upon the rail, it is evident that the side joint bars will not interfere in any way withclamping action, and pins 19 and 29 need be moved away only a slight distance to permit removal of the frame. Themounting of pins 19 upon the swinging arm 17 facilitates placing the machine upon a rail joint. In. this connection, note that arm 17 can be swung upwardly to an out of the way position, and can be retained in such position by the use of a spring detent member 41.

It is preferable to have provision for engaging not only the rail to be slotted, but also the other rail of the track. For this purpose there is shown an extension member 42, in the form of a tube, secured to frame 10 by means of the split socket 43. As shown in Fig. 4, mounted upon that end of tube 42 remote from frame 10, there is another split socket 44, serving to adjustablyreceive an upstanding member 46 which can likewise be a metal tube. A rail engaging angle 47 is se-' cured to the lower end of member 46, and is pro-- vided with set screw 48 for engaging the inner side of the rail ball. By adjusting the position of member 46 in socket 44, the positioning of frame 10 with respect to the horizontal can be adjusted. Likewise, by tightening set screw 48. the machine can be clamped to a trackmerely by engaging the inner sides of the rail ball, without effecting an engagement between pins 19 and the outer side of the rail ball and the joint to be slotted. Such a mode of operation is advantageous where joints are to be slotted at crossings or other places where there is insufiicient space for accommodating arm 17 and pins 19.

The cutting tool or other instrumentality utilized in slotting the joint is preferably in the form of a bit 49, provided with a wedge-shaped cutting end 51. The means provided for predetermining the movement of this bit, as for effecting actuation of the same, will be next described.

Bit 49 is adapted to be retained by a tool holder designated generally at 52. Holder 52 includes an outer hollow member 53, in the form of a metal casting, in which an inner member 54 is slidably fitted. A bit retainer 56 has its upper end pivotally connected to member 54 by means of pivot pin 57. Retainer 56 is provided with a pocket or recess 58, adapted to receive the bit 49. By means of a set screw 59, the bit can be rigidly held with respect to the retainer. A compression spring 61 serves to bias retainer 56 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, against the abutment afforded by the inner member 54.

However, retainer 56 is free to swing a limited amount in a clockwise direction against the bias of spring 61, by virtue of a slot 62 formed in the outer casting 53. It may be explained at this point that the face 63 of bit 49 is adapted to be advanced against the metal being out.

As will appear from Figs. 1 and 3, opposed duplicate guide tracks 64 are mounted upon frame 10. These tracks are provided with V- shaped ways 66, which are substantially arcuate, so that the parts guided by these ways are constrained to move in the arc of a circle. Casting 52 of the tool holder, previously described, is provided with portions 6'7 (Fig. 3) which are adapt ed to engage the ways 66. Shims 68, 69 and 71 insure a snug sliding fit with the ways, to obviate chattering.

To'effect actuation of holder 52 with respect to the guide track 64, thereby causing the holder to traverse in an arcuate path laterally across the rail joint being slotted, I have shown a yoke '72 (Fig. 3), the side branches 73 of which are fixed to the inner ends of stud shafts 22. The upper end of yoke 721s connected to an operating lever 74. Mounted upon the lower ends of the yoke branches '73 are gear segments 76, adapted to operatively engage segmental gear racks 7'7, mounted upon the sides of casting 53 of tool holder 52. It is obvious that upon oscillating lever 74 manually, segmental gear rack 77, together with tool holder 52, will be traversed with respect to the guide track 64.

In conjunction with the tool holder 52 there is also provision for automatically feeding the cutting bit 49 downwardly during a cutting operation. As suitable means of this character, there is shown a feed screw 81 which is threaded into the inner member 54 of the tool holder .52. (Fig. 1). Feed screw 81 is journaled in the upper portion of casting 53, but is constrained with respect to longitudinal movement. Keyed to the outer end of feed screw 81, there is a ratchet wheel 32. Likewise keyed to feed screw 81, and above ratchet wheel 82, there is a hub 83, pro vided with finger engaging portions 84. Journaled eccentric with respect to feed screw 81, and arranged above and below ratchet wheel 83, are the plates 86 and 87. Plate 86 is relatively loosely mounted, so that it has limited movement in a direction lateral to the axis of the feed screw and parallel to the plate 87. An upstanding pin 88 (Fig. 2) is mounted upon the lower plate 87, and is received within a slot 89 formed in the upper plate 86. Pivotally carried by pin 88, there is a pawl 91, adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 82. Pawl 91 is biased towards engaged position by a tension spring92. Both position.

ventedby a side-plate-1'1'9J'(Fig.,3).' Adjacent of spring 93 is limited by as'stop 97,-formed on the tool holder and adapted to engage a lug95 depending fromplate 87. Plate'8'l is also provided with a projecting tab 98 which serves to carry amovable lock pin 99; -Lock pin' 99 is biased upwardly bymeans of compression spring 101, and. in its uppermostposition is adapted to engage the edge 102 of plate 86. .Plate-86;is.

biased in a direction towardspin 99, by} tension spring 104, 'one'endof this spring being anchored to plate 86 jand'the' other end to plate 87;

In order to rendersthe pawl 91 activeor inactive, dependentupon the position .of plate 86 with respect to plate. 87,..aldepending pin 106 is mounted upon plate. 86, this pin extending adjacent one sid'e of theipawl =91. When pin 99 underlies the edge102 of plate '86, pin 106 does not interfere with-operation of pawl 91; How-' ever, when plate 86-is moved a limited distance toward pin 88; pin 99 springs upwardly alongside edge 102, to' retain plate 86 in such position, and

pin 106 likewise moves pawl-91 to inoperative It is" evident that upon rotation of both plates 86 and .87 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and with pawl 91 in active position, feed screw 81 will be advanced a certain amount. To effect such rotation during cutting operations, I provide a stop member in the form of a rod 108, having threaded engagement with bracket 109. Bracket 109 is mounted upon some suitable portion of the machine frame, as for example the split collar 43. A lock nut 111 serves to retain threaded rod 108 in any desired adjusted position. An enlarged head portion 112 is secured to the end of rod 108. Another stop 113 is mounted upon split collar 43 (Fig. 2), and this stop is adapted to engage the side of tool holder 52 when this holder is swung to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. The adjustment of rod 108 with respect to stop 113 determines the extent of annular movement of plates 86 and 8'7 at the end of each cutting cycle. Thus assuming that tool holder 52 is swung to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 to the limit of its movement, that is, against stop 113, during the last part of this movement engagement of head portion 112 with the nut on pin 88 causes plates 86 and 87 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. As the tool holder is swung away from stop 113, plates 86 and 87 are returned to their normal position by tension spring 93. If an operator should desire to raise or lower the cutting bit manually, plate 86 is moved laterally a sufficient distance to permit pin 99 to spring upwardly beside edge 102. Pawl 91 is now out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, and the feed screw can be revolved in either direction by engaging and rotating finger portions 84.

In operating a machine of this character it is desirable to supply a suitable lubricating liquid to the bit during cutting operations. For this purpose there is shown a reservoir 116 mounted upon the frame 10. A tube 117 communicates with the lower portion of this reservoir, and is arranged to discharge lubricatingliquid upon one of the gear racks 7'7. Immediate discharge of lubricant from the teeth of this rack is pre-- one'endof this gear rack, and formedin portion 67, there is a sump 121 (Fig. 2). A tube 122, has its one end communicating with this sump and its other: endlconnnunicating with theinterior of hollow member 53 of the tool l'1olderf52-(Fig. 1). Asthe machineis viewed in 1, .move-= ment of the tool holder 52 .to ther-i'ght, to the limit of itsmovementlin thatdirection, causes tube 122 to tilt to;such:a degree-as to cause flow of cutting compound-from sump 121 through thisv .tube, to the interior ofi-hollow member53. .Lu-.

bricant thus dischargedaintoihe .tool' holder passes downwardlyupon the slot being cut. Cut-. ting compound discharged. uponithe gear rack 77 beneath the discharge endof'tube'll'lfinds, its way into sump121, during traversing movement ofthetool holders In utilizing the. machine'describedabove, the operator placesthe ma-chine'upon the track. ad jacent the jointtobe slotted-and bit .49 is centered with respectto'=the-:cente'r of the "joint. Lever 37 :is rotated:inv a=,clockwise direction; as viewed in Fig.1, to. cause'pins 19:and329 to securely clamp the machine to the rail. The feed screw is then rotated manually to lower bit 49 to a position padjacenttthe ends of therail sec-- tions. The operatornow oscillates hand lever 74 to traverse the bit acrossthe joint, care being taken to cause the holder to be brought into contact with stop 113, at the end of each traversing cycle. The bit is then fed down automatically and commences to cut away the upper edges of the ends of the rail sections. rail sections are cut away simultaneously, because of the V-shaped formation of the end of the bit. While the bit is traversed in an arcuate path, the nature of the slot formed will depend somewhat upon the adjustment of the machine. Asshown in Fig. 5, pins 19 and 29 can be so adjusted that the traversing arc is symmetrical with respect'to the center of the rail. In this case both ends of the slot will be wider and deeper than the intermediate slot portions. As indicated in Fig. 6, pins 19 and29 are so adjusted that the slot'formed will be of greatest width and depth at the end terminating upon the inside of the track. The adjustment indicated in Fig. 6 is generally to be preferred, for the reason that the corners of the rail ends upon the inside ofthetrack are subjected to severe pounding, and because these corners are less resistant to battering.

It is characteristic of my machine that not only does the cutting bit move in an arcuate path, but as the bit is being traversed, its angle with respect to the vertical is continuously changed. In other words, the forward face 63 of the bit is always presented at a substantially constant cutting angle with respect to the metal being cut away; This characteristic makes possible efficient cutting action at all times, and prevents breakage and undue wear upon the bit. It is evident that if the bit were retained at a constant angle with respect to the vertical, while being traversed in an arcuate path, it would at times be advanced against the metal at an improper angle, thus causing ineflicient cutting if not breakage of the bit.

Adjustment of the frame of the machine wit respect to the horizontal, as by varying the adjustment between members 42 and 46, can like-' wise be utilized for varying the relative depth and width between the ends of the slot. Such adjustments can also be made on canted rails,

The edges of bothor where the positioning of the frame must be varied to secure a slot extending entirely across the joint.

I claim: I

1. In a machine for slotting rail joints, a frame adapted to be positioned adjacent the joint to be slotted, a curved guide track carried by the frame and extending laterally with respect to the joint, a cutting tool holder slidably carried by said track, means for traversing said-holder with respect to the track, and means for adjusting the frame laterally with respect to the track, whereby the depth of theslot adjacent one side of the joint can be varied with respect to the depth of the slot on the other side.

2. In a machine for slotting rail joints of'a railway track, a frame adapted to be positioned adjacent the joint to be slotted, an arcuate guide track carried by said frame and extending transversely overethe rail, a holder. for a cutting tool slidably carried by said guide track,. means-for traversing said holder with respect to said guide track, and means for adjusting the positioning of said guide track about the longitudinal'axis of the rail.

3. In a machine for the slotting of rail joints of a railway track, a frame including a pair of spaced side portions adapted to overlie a rail, a pair of spaced and upwardly arched guide tracks secured to said side portions, said guide,

tracks overlying the rail and extending at right angles thereto, a holder for a slotting tool slidably carried by said guide tracks-and means carried by the frame for traversing the tool holder along said guide tracks.

'4. In a machine forthe slotting of rail joints of a railway track, a frame including a pair of spaced side portionsadapted to overlie a rail, a pair of spaced and upwardly arched guide tracks secured to said side portions, said tracks overlying the'railand extending at right angles thereto,ya holder for a slotting tool/slidably carriedby said guide tracks, a portion of said holder depending downwardly between said tracks, and means carried by the frame for traversing the tool holder along said guide tracks.

5. In a machinevi'or the slotting of rail joints of a railway track, a frame including a pair of spaced, side'portions having their ends joined together and adapted to overlie a rail, a pair of spaced and upwardly archedguide tracks secured to said side portions, said tracks overlying the railand extending at right angles thereto,- a holder for a slotting tool slidably carried by said guide tracks, a portion of said holder depending downwardly between said tracks, means carried by the frame for traversing the tool holder along said guide tracks, and means, carried by said frame for releasably gripping a rail.

' ARION S. KALENBORN. 

